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Southern Gothic: The Global Underground Hits Richmond

Richmond has always produced world-class talent and just as often, watched it leave. That cycle was exactly what Warren Jones, performer and co-founder of Prison Religion, and Christian Detres, filmmaker and longtime RVA Magazine contributor, set out to change. Their...

From Skate Parks to Tour Vans: Elyza Reinhart Shoots the Grind

Elyza Reinhart has been shooting shows since she was twelve, before she had a photo pass, before she even really knew what she was doing. That early start, and the nerves that came with it, still shape how she works today. Now based in Richmond, she’s finding new ways...

Weekend Frequency Vol. 22 | Free DC Playlist

Richmond gets it. More than any other city in Virginia. So here’s Weekend Frequency, a reader-curated playlist built for the city, by the city. This week’s playlist comes from the publishers of RVA Mag: A resistance soundtrack for our friends in Washington DC...

Life Wrote These Lines: Local Musicians Against AI

I was recently reflecting on a line I am particularly proud of. The tail half is: “I’ll go to the funeral if I get off of work.” As I am prone to do, it got me thinking about my abrasive hatred towards AI, especially in art. But I have to justify myself, if a computer...

Melody and Fire: Dispatch Brings the Resistance to RVA

When Dispatch takes the stage in Richmond on Tuesday, June 10, it won’t just be another stop on tour—it’ll mark one of the very first concerts at the new Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront. Nestled between the skyline and the James River, the venue offers a view and vibe fit for a band that’s spent over two decades walking the line between...

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Photos | Maynard James Keenan and the Sessanta Tour in Virginia

A few weeks ago, we talked to Maynard James Keenan about the Sessanta tour — this strange, layered fever dream of a show stitched together with parts of A Perfect Circle, Tool, and Primus. When asked what it all meant, he didn’t blink. “You just do,” he said. No big philosophy. No TED Talk. The Sessanta tour isn’t your typical lap around the...

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False Nectar Is What Happens When Everything Somehow Goes Right

As any modern miracle story starts, the pandemic had hit and a project was birthed in a Richmond apartment. Bassist and vocalist Harrison was held up crafting something he did not yet know, False Nectar. As the world turned, and the songs became tangible, he reached out to a drummer he had shared a number of previous bills with, his friend...

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How a Long Hiatus Made Hot Lava Even Hotter

After more than a decade away from the spotlight, Richmond’s beloved indie pop band Hot Lava is flowing back to the Richmond Music scene with a refreshed lineup and a new album titled Queen of Fools on the way. Front woman Allison Apperson leads the charge with the emotionally layered single “What Not to Wear,” a track that marks...

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Sound Check! Bully! Human Worm! Boston Manor! & More!

I believe a bunch of bands from Richmond have it in ‘em to drive off into the future, and I see a few of that lot on these shows right here. I can’t wait to say, “I saw so-and-so at Bandito’s, and now they’re headlining Coachella!” Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com. FRIDAY...

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Bully-photo by Bobbi-Rich_RVA Magazine 2025

Why Shera Shi’s Debut Refuses to Fit One Genre

The first time I saw Shera Shi was after stepping back into Richmond’s music scene, following a few years away during the quarantine-era shutdown. One of the best things about catching live music in RVA is stumbling onto “new to you” bands while showing up for the ones you already know. That’s exactly what happened at a spring 2023 show at Get...

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